Circuit-changing device.



W. H. GAULKE;

" GIRGUIT CHANGING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1911.

" 2 SHEBTS-SHEET 1.

"III- Wneuwew w E 1 @74 7%1/1027247. Q6 /'6' Patented Aug. 5, 1913. v

W. H. GAULKE. CIRCUIT CHANGING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 26, 1911. 1,069,6 1 0.

Patented Aug. 5, 1913 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Z/ZZheL/yw 6 kt Y Ill-1m lllllilflf Unirnn WILLIAM H. GAULKE, OF MILWAUKEE,

"WISCONSIN, ASSIGNO}, TQ INDEPENDENT CERCUIT-CHANGING DEVEGEQ Specification of Letter P t n Patented Aug, 5,1913.

Application filed September 26, 1911. Serial No. 651,459.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, lVi'LLiAM H. GAULKE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and tate of 1V isconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Circuit- Changing Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyinc: drawings, forming a part of this speciiication.

My invention relates to circuit changing devices, and in the embodiment shown herein is more particularly of service in connection with a multiple switch, one of whose manyv uses as illustrated herein consists in its application to starting devices for machinery.

More particularly my invention contemplates a device in which a plurality of contacts may be successively made, and may if desired be successively opened in reverse order to the making. 1

The device also contemplates means whereby one or the other of the aforesaid operations, that is the making or the breaking of all of the contacts may be simultaneously done.

My invention in one of its embodiments is of great utility in connection with heavy duty electrical power service when large motors, for instance, may be started, which motors are started as is well understood by etl'ecting a series of successive circuit changes until the motor is finally in operation. My invention sets forth means for making these successive circuit changes, preferably by hand. each circuit change beiDQ controlled by a substantial circuit controlling element or elements of the character to control circuits of considerable aniperagrc and widely di'ri'orcnt therefor-e from the ordinary starting rhcostats with their slidable handle. successively slidably engagin; a plurality of contacts arranged in its path of operation. My invention also contemplates the provision of means whereby these same contact making elements may be successively operated, preferably in reverse order to open the circuits controlled there by. "llltli llt' means, electromagnetic, 11? desired, being also provided whereby the entire circuit controlling elements may be jointly operated, for instance, it unusual electrical conditions affect the devices or circuits under the control of my improved device.

I will explain my invention more in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating one embodiment thereof, in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of a device constructed in accordance with my invention; Fig. 2 is a top view thereof; and Fig. 3 is a detail view of a cam.

Referring to the figures, I set forth a plurality of contact brushes 1 suitably niounted and secured to angle pieces 2, 2, which in the form herein shown form one terminal of a circuit: to be controlled. There are as many circuits there are brushes of this character and the cooperating contact of each circuit consists of a switch element 3 suitably mounted upon an arm. at, all oi the arms 4 being independently but rotatably mounted on the shaft 5 and suitably insulated from one another in any desired inanner so as to preserve the individuality of the switch element 3 as may be desired. Supplemental carbon breaks are provided for each pair of contact terminals 1 and .3 and these carbon breaks consist of the carbon blocks (3 and 7, of which the block (3 is mounted on aspring angle piece 8 suitably secured to an angle piece *2, and the block 7 is secured by a suitable spring angle piece 9 to tlie arm 4-. The shaft; 5 is mounted in suitable bearings at its opposite extremities which are secured to the base plate 11. lhc base plate 11 is suitably mounted on an insulating plate 12, which insulatingplate also carries the angle pieces 2. Each arm a has a bracket 13 carrying a roller 14 by 'means of which through the use of suitable cams 15, 1t 17, 18 and if) said arms may be independently controlled as will be set forth directly. When the cams 15 to 19 inclusive are not in engagement with any of the rollers 14 the switch arms t are in the position shown by the left hand arm of Fig. 1. l Vhenever a roller 14, however, is engaged by its corresponding cam, then the corrc sponding arm 4 occupies the circuit closing position of the right hand arm l of Fig. 1.

By virtue or the construction which will now be described, it will be seen that the arms t may be successively brought into contact'making position beginning from the I in the course of the clockwise revolutio o right hand end. (Fig. 2) and may thereafter be successively released from this contact making position beginning preferably at the left hand end (Fig. The earns .15, 16,. 1?, l8 and 19 are substantially similar in shape and their structure tvill he understood by referring to Fig. 3; in which cam is set forth whichxhas an outer circular surface 20 and a circular surfa e 21. of less diameter which are joined by the surface 22 to form an edge 23. 'lhese'eams are all mounted on a shaft 2%, which sl'ieft also can ries fixedly secured thereto two ratchet wheels 25 and 26, 26 hein ri 'ht hand ratchet wheel and 25 left hand ratchet wheel. The cams, however. alth" ugh fixedly o secured to the shaft are so orr n sd that the edge 23 in each of the cam occupies a diil'ercnt angular position with resp; to its adjoining cam, as will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. *i Vhen the rollers rest against the surfaces 21 the isre their open circuit position and. when the rollers rest against the surfaces 20, the

l are in their C(lIliZiZCt-lliflllfif positions. As J! l the shaft 24, the surfaces 20 o the resoective cams are one after another 'oroug 1i) into association with the rollers 14- so the arms s are successively pieced their contact making position. during the continued clockwise operation of the said shaft 2%. verse operation of said she sivcly release the arms in as will be apparent.

t will succes reverse order it 2 The sh 6 limit the angular movement of said hanc le about said shaft. The handle 27 carries a pawl 33 controlled by a spring 3% which is adapted toengage the teeth or" the stepl)ystep wheel 26. The handle 2? also a pawl 35 which is adapted under cetwin conditions to engage the step-hy-step wheel Thus if the handle 27 is moved in clockwise direction the pawl 83'engages the teeth of the wheel 25 and moves the shaft 2i aspccified angular distance forward. coir trolled by the arms 31 and which angular forward movement of the shaft is suilicicnt to bring the first cam 15 into engagement with the roller 14 corresponding thereto, to place the first arm l into contact making position. The handle hereupon rotates to the position shown in Fig. 1 and a further angular forward movement brings the cam 16 into operative position to bring the second arm 5 into its contact. making condition. Similarly the remaining arms are successively acted upon. Now should it he desired to release these arms successively for speed control purposes for instance, tie

a su iplel-nental lun er 3G is oushed down.

i b L wheel 26 and )laces the oawl 3f 1 such a.

i f )GSltlOl'l that it en 'a 'es the to th or me wheel 25. Then if the handle is operated forward and back. it will successively operate upon the arms u} beginning at the left hand end of Fig. 2. in this way the arms 1 may be independently controlled and Suecessively actuated. It sometimes is advisable to break all of the contacts practically simultaneously. and this is ncconiplished by means of e notched bar 37 slidable within a hearing 38 and pivotally secured to a. link 39, which. link 39 is pivotally secured to the wheel 26 hy'nieans of the screw l0. l'hus this arm 3? being movable with the wheel 26 corresponds in. position to the angular position of the shaft 2 and a plurality of notches ll are provided so that a notch il. in association with the catch 42 for each resting position of the shaft 24;. Electromagnetic means 43 control the association of the. catch 42 with the slide 3'? and when unusual circuit conditions obtein, a. deonergization of the means 13 releases the catch from engogement with the slide 3?. therepermitting a spring; it to rotate the shift 24 in a contra-ch. .lzgwise direction per- 't practically sinmltzmcous release the arms posn' This is due to the fact that the pawl 35 never engages the wheel 25 except when the plunger 36 is depressed, and. due to fact that the pawl 33 does not engage the teeth of the wheel 26 when the handle 27 is in the position of Fig. 1. This is accomplished by the following instrumentalities- These instrumentalities include an 1137111 45 mounted to the base 12 by mean", of

its angular extension .6 on which are mounted two cam surfaces 47 and 48. W; 'n the arm is moved in a contra-clockwise direction (Fi 'l l), as when the handle is being restored'to its normal position, this arm or pawl rides over tooth of the wheel 26 and before leaving this tooth engages' the cam surface Sby which it is further released from engagement with said tooth, When the arm 27 finally reaches its. limiting position, the pin t) on this pawl has le t the cam 48 and slid into engagement with the cam 47. A furtoer forward movenient of the arm Ql'wvill then immediately release the pawl 33 and permit it to engage the next succeeding tooth or rather the oneover which it has just passed in its reverse motion. '1 he catch is ofsuch a character .that although the catch nornielly holds the from their contact making I have herein specifically described.

It will of course he understood that I one form which my invention may take. It is susceptible of a variety of modifications and different uses to which in accordance with the terms of the claims I am entitled.

Having however, thus described a specific form of carrying cut my invention, what i claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of independent circuit controlilrg elements, means uncon trolled by said elements for successively operating said elements to place all of them in a given circuit. changing position, means for successively actuating said elements to restore them to normal condition, a locking device for said means to retain them in their limiting or intermediate positions, and electro-magnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration of said elements to normal.

2. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, and a plurality of cams adapted to successively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-hystep element associated netic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

3. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a plurality of cams adapted to suecessively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a element associated with said shaft to pcriodically rotate said shaft in a given direc tion, a second step-hy-step element to periodically actuate said shaft in the reverse direction, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

4, A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elemen ts, and a plurality of cams adapted to successively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-lojwstep element associated with said shaft to periodically rotate said shaft, a handle to control said element, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

5. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a plurality of cams adapted to successively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a ste by-step element associated with said she t to periodisally rotate said shaft in a given direction, a second step-by-step element to periodically actuate said shaft in the reverse direction, a handle to control said element, and

and electromagnetic retaining means with said shaft to periodically rotate said shaft, and electromag-i shaft, a step-by-step electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit cluinging elements.

(3. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing eleui'ents, a plurality of cams adapted to euccessively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-loy-stepv element associated with said shaft to'periodically rotate said shaft, a handle to control said element, and electromagnetic retaining means for said shaft.

7. A. dcv'ce of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a plurality of cams adapted to sucg0 ccssivcly actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-loy-step element associated with said shaft to periodically rotate said shaft in a given di-- reetion, a second step-oy-step element to 5 periodically actuate said shaft in the reverse direction, a handle to control said element, for

said shaft.

8. A device of the character describedv a having a plurality of circuit changing elements, and a plurality of cams having engularly disposed actuating means adapted to successively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-by-step element associated with said shaftto periodically rotate said shaft, a handle to control said element, and electromagnetic means to control. the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements. we 9. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a plurality of cams having angularly' disposed actuating means adapted to suecessively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-by-stepelement associated with said shaft to pcriodically rotate said shaft in a given di': rection, a second step-hy-step element to 'pe riodically actuate said shaft in the reverse 11a direction, a handle to control said element, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

' 16. A device of the character described 1-15, having aplurality of circuit changing elements, a plurality of cams having angularly disposed actuating means adapted to suecessiveiy actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a ste -by-step ele- 12a ment associated with said shart to periodically rotate said shaft, a handle to controlsaid element, and electromagnetic retaining means for said shaft.

11. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a plurality of cams having angularly disposed actuating means adapte to successively actuate said elements, said cams being mounted on a shaft, a step-hy -stcp ele- 13o for actuating said pawls,

-52; inent awociatcd with id shaft to eriocliousrestoration to normal of said circuit, cally rotate said shalt in a g1 ven direction, charging elements.

a second stcp-hv-sre elcn'ientto periodically A device of the character described actuate said shaft in the reverse direction. having a luralit-y of circuit changing elc a handle to control said element, and 1" nift having means tosuccessively :ibcd having a pluialit of circuit cl'ianging clcmcnts, and a shaft having, means to successively actuate said elements, a stcp-hy-step element with said shaft by WlllCll said shaft may he 'ieriodically rotated, a second stephy-step element by which said shaft may he periodically actuated in a rererse manner, pawls .t'or said stepbystcp elements, means for controlling the association of said pawls with said steph'y-step elements, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal oi said circuit changing elements.

13. A device of the character dcscrihed having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a shalt having means to successively actuate said elements, a step-hy-step element with said shaft by which said shaft may he pcriodinlly rotated, a second step hy-step element by which said shalt may be periodically actuated in a reverse manner, pawls for said ste1 -by-step elements, means for contiolling the associatiouof said pawls with said stcp-l. y-step elements, a handle and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

l lt. i i having a plurality of circuit changing merits, a shaft ha \ing means to successively actuate-said elements, a step-by-step element associated with said shaft by means of which said shaft. may be periodically rotated, a pawl for said step-hy-step element, a handle f or controlling; said pawl, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

if). A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a shaft having means to successively actuate said elements a step-bjyi stcp element associated with said shaft by means of which said shaft may be periodically related, a pawl for said step-by-stcp clement,

means for controlling said pawl, and electromagnetic means to control the simultane device oi the character described aid elements, a step-bystep element h said shaft by means of which said 5 may be periodically rotated, a pawl for said step-bystep element, means for controlling the association of said pawl with said step-by-step element, means for con trolling said pawl, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous rcstora-.

tion to normal of said circuit changing elements.

17. A device of the character described having a plurality of circuit changing elements, a shaft having means to successively actuate said elements, a step-by-stcp clement associated with said shaft whereby said shaft inay' be periodically rotated, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said circuit changing elements.

13. A device of the character described comprising a plurality of independent circuit controlling elements, step bystep means for successively operating said elements to place them in--a given circuit changing position, step-by-step means for successively actuating said elements to restore them to normal condition, a locking' device for said means to retain them in their limiting or intermediate positions, and electromagnetic means ous restoration to normal of said circuit,

changin elements.

19. A device of the character described comprising aplurality of switch elements, step-by-step operating means whereby said switch elements may be successively brought into circuit changing position, a locking device for said means to retain them in their limiting or intermediate positions, and electromagnetic means to control the simultaneous restoration to normal of said switch elements.

in witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 8th da of September A. D,

lVlLLlAlll l-l. GAULl ZE.

- ll iti'icssesr i l lax 5/ ZABEL, HAZEL Jonns. v

to control the simultane- 

